J. F. Storz

Genomic and Radiocarbon Insights into the Mystery of Mouse Mummies on the Summits of >6000 m Andean Volcanoes

The paper reports the discovery of high-altitude mouse mummies and genomic and radiocarbon analyses showing they are recent and genetically similar to lower-altitude populations.

Elevational and latitudinal range extensions of the puna mouse, Punomys (Cricetidae), with the first record of the genus from Chile

The paper reports a new elevational and geographic record of the puna mouse genus Punomys in Chile, extending its known distribution and highlighting the need for further surveys in remote high-elevation regions.

Epistatic effects between amino acid insertions and substitutions mediate toxin-resistance of vertebrate Na+,K+-ATPases

The paper shows how amino acid insertions and substitutions in Na+,K+-ATPase affect toxin resistance in different vertebrate lineages through epistatic interactions.

Evolution and molecular basis of a novel allosteric property of crocodilian hemoglobin

This study investigates the molecular basis of a novel allosteric property in crocodilian hemoglobin by resurrecting ancestral proteins and performing directed mutagenesis.

Blood variation implicates respiratory limits on elevational ranges of Andean birds

This study examines how hematological traits influence elevational ranges of Andean birds, finding that plasticity and reduced local variation near range limits are linked to oxygen availability constraints.

New insights into the allosteric effects of CO2 and bicarbonate on crocodilian hemoglobin

This study provides the first experimental evidence that bicarbonate binds directly to crocodilian hemoglobin, promoting O2 delivery independently of CO2.

Genetic variation in haemoglobin regulates breathing in high-altitude deer mice

This study shows that genetic variation in haemoglobin affects breathing patterns in high-altitude deer mice, independent of its role in oxygen transport.

Evolved increases in hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and Bohr effect coincided with the aquatic specialization of penguins.

This study investigates how penguins evolved increased hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and Bohr effect to enhance diving capabilities by optimizing oxygen extraction and release during breath-hold dives.

The adaptive benefit of evolved increases in hemoglobin-O2 affinity is contingent on tissue O2 diffusing capacity in high-altitude deer mice

This study shows that increased hemoglobin-O2 affinity in high-altitude deer mice only benefits aerobic thermogenesis if paired with improved tissue O2 diffusion capacity.

Concerted evolution reveals co-adapted amino acid substitutions in Na+K+-ATPase of frogs that prey on toxic toads

The paper shows that selection maintains adaptive division-of-labor between tandem duplicates of ATP1A1 in frogs, countering gene conversion to confer toxin resistance.

Biochemical paedomorphosis and genetic assimilation in the hypoxia adaptation of Tibetan antelope

The paper identifies a developmental shift in gene expression in Tibetan antelopes that leads to increased blood-O2 affinity through juvenile hemoglobin isoform replacement, and reveals the genomic mechanism of this adaptation.

Discovery of the world's highest-dwelling mammal

The paper reports the discovery of a mouse at 6739 m altitude, setting a new world record for mammalian altitude, highlighting underexplored high-altitude regions.

The role of mutation bias in adaptive molecular evolution: insights from convergent changes in protein function

The paper examines how mutation bias at CpG dinucleotides influences adaptive molecular evolution by analyzing convergent changes in hemoglobin function across high-altitude birds.